help, well be in England & Wales Sept 8 thru 27 - whats best for rail passes

BritRail (whole island) and BritRail England passes both offer senior rates. If you're there for 20 days, you can consider the England version for 22 consecutive days at $407 per person in 2nd class (plus separate tickets within Wales), or else regular BritRail for 22 consecutive days is $508. Passes for 8 days spread within a month are cheaper, if you want to use them just for the 8 longest travel days (pass covers all day until midnight). See info on the same page about ticket discount options like the Two-Together Travel Card (to buy there) and links for cost comparison.

Separate ticket cost comparisons will depend on the exact order of visiting the destinations listed, as well as whether you want to lock in dates and times ahead. I haven't done the math. Some trains will be routed back through London, even if that's not the way the crow would fly. You could also check National Express for bus options (not covered by BritRail passes) if you don't like the train schedules.

Individual tickets http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types.aspx#Which

And a Senior Railcard https://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/

is what you want

Most taxis will take cards

If you will stay together for each of the train trips a Two Together Railcard is half the price of two (one each) Senior Railcards with very nearly identical benefits.